414. JER 30:9. DAVID A TYPE OF CHRIST

Jer_30:9. David a Type Of Christ

"They shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them."’97Jer_30:9.

No one ever more fully typified Jesus than David, who, notwithstanding his lamentable defects of character, was an eminently holy man, and an illustrious servant of the God of Israel. His history is exceedingly eventful, and highly adapted to instruct and edify the contemplative believer. Few were more visibly under the guidance of a benign and wise providence than David. God indeed was his refuge, his help, and his shield. He stands forth justly celebrated as a wise and good monarch; his ardent devout piety, the prophetic sphere in which he moved, and his sanctified poetic powers, rendered him an eminent blessing in his day and generation. His psalms have comforted and strengthened the people of God in every age, and his songs of praise will be joyfully sung in the assemblies of the righteous to the end of the world. But at present we have to do with David as a type of the Saviour. This typical resemblance is observable,

I. In his Name.

David signifies beloved. Such was David, beloved of God, a man after God’s own heart. We see in the text that the very name is given to Jesus, for the prophecies of Jeremiah could have respect to none but to the Messiah. See also Eze_34:24; Hos_3:5. If David’s name appropriately belonged to him in its signification of beloved, how much does it apply to Jesus. He is essentially and in the most comprehensive sense the beloved. Beloved of God, Jehovah’s everlasting delight. (See Pro_8:30.) Beloved and adored of angels. The joy of heaven and the one supreme object of celestial worship and praise. Beloved of the church, in every age and country, and among every nation and people, where the gospel has been preached, and his sweet odoriferous name made known. This is our beloved, and this is our friend.

II. In his Parentage and Birth-place.

Jesse, a man of no worldly celebrity or greatness, was the father of David; Bethlehem, a village or small town of Judea, his birthplace. How clearly did these shadow forth the humble condition of Jesus. He was the son of Mary, a poor virgin espoused to Joseph a carpenter. And precisely the same place, Bethlehem, gave birth to David, and to David’s Lord, the world’s Messiah. Hence it was written by the prophet, "And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda," &c., Mat_2:5, Mat_2:6.

III. In his Occupation.

David was originally a shepherd. It was emphatically said of him to Samuel, "He keepeth the sheep," 1Sa_16:11. In his pastoral employment how strikingly he typified Jesus, the "Great Shepherd of the sheep." To a shepherd Christ often likened himself. He said, "I am the good shepherd." As such he evinced unequalled affection and tenderness for his flock.

He gave his life for his sheep. He leads them into green pastures. He preserves them from the roaring destroying lion. He restoreth them when they wander. He healeth all their diseases. And finally he receives them into his heavenly fold, and causeth them to lie down, by the rivers of his pleasure, forever and ever.

IV. In his Person and Moral Endowments.

The personal beauty of David is the subject of inspired testimony. His pious and holy character are expressly described and exhibited in the history of his life. Of Jesus, he said, when speaking by the power of inspiration, "Thou art fairer than the children of men, grace is poured into thy lips," &c., Psa_41:2. All moral excellencies were concentrated in Jesus. In him light and truth centred, holiness and love dwelt. Righteousness and peace were perfected. He was the express image of the purity and goodness of God.

V. In his Exaltation to the Throne of Israel.

In the exaltation of David we behold the direct interference of God. The evident work of his all-wise and blessed providence. See 1Sa_16:3, &c. For this exalted station God qualified him in the day of his anointing, by giving him his Holy Spirit, 1Sa_16:13. In this how forcibly are we led to contemplate the royal character of Messiah the Prince. That David whom the Lord anointed to be king in Zion, whose sceptre is a sceptre of righteousness, and whose dominions are destined to encircle the whole earth, and whose reign is to be a reign of everlasting mercy and truth. For his kingly office God anointed his son Jesus, with the oil of gladness above his fellows, Heb_1:8.

VI. In his Prophetical Office.

David was richly imbued with the spirit of prophecy. His predictions are numerous. He predicted extensively of the person, work, suffering, glory, and kingdom of the Messiah. Jesus is also a prophet. A prophet possessing the powers of inspiration in himself. For the Spirit dwelt in him in all its immeasurable fulness. He is also the source and the chief subject of prophecy. To him bear all the prophets wit ness.

VII. In his Sufferings and Enemies.

David had to bear the malignant, envious dislike of Saul. The opposition of the surrounding nations. The blasphemous rage of Goliath. The deceitful conspiracy of his own subjects. And the unfaithfulness and crimes of his own family. What room for enlargement here, on the sufferings and enemies of Christ! Jesus had to conflict with the powers of darkness. The envy of Herod and the chief priests. The hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. The defection of his own disciples, and the wicked perfidy of Judas, who betrayed him. Many of David’s psalms were clearly expressive of his own sufferings and enemies, and yet prophetically alluding to the sufferings and enemies of Christ.

VIII. In his signal Victories.

The victories of David were signal and numerous. See these celebrated, 2Sa_18:10. God often went with him, and in the name of the Lord he mightily triumphed over his enemies. The lion and the bear, Goliath and the Philistines, were all vanquished by the son of Jesse. Jesus too triumphed over all his foes. He overcame the wicked one in the wilderness. He overcame the powers of darkness and sin, in the mighty miracles which he wrought. He overcame death and hell, by his resurrection from the dead. He is the mighty and blessed conqueror, who is represented by John, in the visions of Patmos, as seated on a white horse, and going forth from conquering to conquer.

But David was a frail man; his victories were obtained by the shedding of blood, and his course was connected with the misery of his fellow-men. Our David is the perfect and immaculate Christ; his victories are bloodless, and his course is one of universal happiness and joy.

How happy are his loyal subjects! How precious the privileges of his kingdom! And how universally glorious shall be his dominion and reign!

Autor: JABEZ BURNS